“The perception is … there seems to be a targeting of young Muslims and an almost threatening attitude by some law enforcement agents with respect to how they question or interact with these people,” president Zaahir Edries told a hearing in Canberra on Monday.

“Accurate or not, it’s something that exists.”

The volunteer organisation said that with such laws, and the rise of groups like Reclaim Australia, the Muslim community was deeply concerned about the growing social divide in Australia.

Recent comments by former prime minister Tony Abbott about Islam added to that feeling, it noted.

But Cameron Gifford from the Attorney-General’s Department said the laws were developed to apply to everyone.

“And that is the point we’re at pains to make every single time we engage with the community, to make sure that’s very well understood,” he said.

Mr Gifford conceded there had been no formal consultation with the community before the laws were drafted, but offered to review Mr Edries’ evidence and address any concerns.

“All these legislative tranches that we’ve seen unfold over the course of the last 18 to 24 months really do indicate there’s always room for improvement,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said the Australian Federal Police regularly engaged with Muslim leaders, including a “full and frank” discussion about the purpose of these laws specifically.

“I think we agreed to disagree on some points, but the fact of the matter is there is open dialogue and they certainly have my number,” he said.

The bill at the centre of the joint parliamentary committee on intelligence and security’s inquiry contains several changes to counter-terrorism legislation.

They include allowing a control order to be imposed on children as young as 14, instead of 16, enhanced monitoring powers and a new offence of advocating genocide.

The Law Council of Australia and Australian Human Rights Commission want better safeguards to protect children.

Both are urging for changes to ensure the child’s best interests are given primary consideration by the courts when determining if a control order should be applied.

The Law Council also warned that the revised test for granting a preventative detention order could be subject to legal challenge and has suggested a change to some of the wording.

Controversial ride-sharing service Uber is set to become legal in NSW.

From midnight on Thursday Uber drivers will have to pay a $45 licence fee, undergo criminal checks and have their cars checked for safety after the Baird government decided to regulate the online service.

A $250 million adjustment package will be established to compensate taxi and hire car licence plate owners.

The state’s perpetual taxi plate holders will receive $20,000 per plate for a maximum of two plates.

Related reading

The government will also slash licence fees and repeal more than 50 “red tape” regulations to help the industry adjust.

The changes, which are expected to generate $30 million in benefits for the industry each year, should have flow-on effects for customers, Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.

“Fares in a competitive market will adjust and be more affordable as a result of us stripping out 50 pieces of red tape,” he said.

Post by Mike Baird on Wednesday, 16 December 2015.

General manager of Uber in Australia and New Zealand, David Rohrsheim, welcomed the announcement.

“This important step forward is an incredible reflection of the way Sydneysiders have embraced ridesharing over the past 18 months,” he said in a statement.

“Thanks to the support of half a million Sydney uberX riders and over 5500 driver-partners, the government has recognised your right to choose how you get around your city and to access flexible work that fits around your life.

“Ridesharing is not only revolutionising the transportation status quo but also helping make Sydney a more economically vibrant, better connected and more sustainable city.”

Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm said Sydneysiders were the big winners from the government’s announcement.

“Transport is a huge problem in Sydney, and making Uber legal will help locals and tourists alike,” he said.

“I encourage the NSW Government to avoid tying up occasional Uber drivers in red tape and to now look at other areas of over-regulation, such as the lock-out laws in Kings Cross, and Airbnb.

Related reading

“The pressure is now on the other states. They are going to look like backwaters in comparison to the ACT and NSW, with tourists made to feel like a criminal just for sharing a ride.”

The ACT became the first state or terroritory in Australia to make Uber legal from October 30.

“This taxi tax will see all consumers pay more to compensate an industry that refused to innovate or improve its customer service.

“In the long term, the reforms will ideally offer more choices for consumers when trying to get from A to B which are safe and competitive, but it’s disappointing to see all consumers pay extra as a gift for taxi licensees.”

The authorisation came a year after the US Congress passed legislation approving the sale. It is the first such major arms sale to Taiwan in more than four years and includes two frigates, anti-tank missiles, amphibious assault vehicles and other equipment.

The White House said there was no change in the longstanding US “one China” policy. Past US weapons sales to Taiwan have attracted strong condemnation in China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province.

The White House said the authorisation followed previous sales notifications by the administration totalling more than $US12 billion under the Taiwan Relations Act.

“Our longstanding policy on arms sales to Taiwan has been consistent across six different US administrations,” National Security Council spokesman Myles Caggins said. “We remain committed to our one-China policy,” he added.

Although Washington does not recognise Taiwan as a separate state from China, it is committed under the Taiwan Relations Act to ensuring Taipei can maintain a credible defence.

The sales come at a period of heightened tension between the US and China over the South China Sea, where Washington has been critical of China’s building of man-made islands to assert expansive territorial claims.

China summoned the US charge d’affaires in Beijing, Kaye Lee, to protest and said it would impose sanctions on the companies involved, state news agency Xinhua reported.

“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China strongly opposes the US arms sale to Taiwan,” Xinhua quoted Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang as saying.

Zheng said the sales went against international law and basic norms of international relations and “severely” harmed China’s sovereignty and security.

“To safeguard our national interests, China has decided to take necessary measures, including imposing sanctions against the companies involved in the arms sale,” Zheng said.

The US State Department said Raytheon and Lockheed Martin were the main contractors in the sales.

It was not clear what impact sanctions might have on the companies, although in 2013, Lockheed Martin signed a pact with the Thailand-based Reignwood Group to build an offshore plant to supply energy for a luxury resort on Hainan island in southern China.

However, previous Chinese sanction threats have not been followed up by Beijing.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement the new weapons would be phased in over a number of years and would enable Taiwan to maintain and develop a credible defence.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said the decision was based solely on Taiwan’s defence needs.

“The Chinese can react to this as they see fit,” he said. “This is nothing new. … There’s no need for it to have any derogatory effect on our relationship with China.”

Kirby said Washington wanted to work to establish a “better, more transparent more effective relationship” with China in the region and had been in contact with both Taiwan and China on this on Wednesday. He declined to elaborate.

Analysts and congressional sources believe the delay in the formal approval of the sales was due to the Obama administration’s desire to maintain stable working relations with China, an increasingly powerful strategic rival but also a vital economic partner as the world’s second-largest economy.

The 14-times major champion hit his share of good shots, but a couple of wild drives demonstrated yet again that his swing changes under coach Chris Como remain a work in progress.

In his last start before the British Open at St. Andrews, where he has won twice, Woods took a double-bogey at the par-four 11th after fanning his drive out-of-bounds.

Later, at the par-five 17th, he hooked his drive less than 200 yards en route to a bogey.

Bohn had no such problems as he accrued 10 birdies to come within two shots of the course record 59 held by Stuart Appleby.

After sinking a seven-foot putt at the 36th hole to make the cut with nothing to spare on Friday, Bohn used the confidence-booster as a springboard into contention.

He finished long before the halfway leaders had even teed off, and his performance was good enough to end the day locked with fellow Americans Bryce Molder (67) and Sean O’Hair (66), and South Korean Park Sung-joon (66) at 11-under 199.

Four others are just one stroke behind at a tournament where no 54-hole leader has ever won.

“I had some benign conditions this morning and hit a lot of good shots and made a lot of putts, so it was great,” Bohn told CBS.

“A lot of my putts didn’t have a lot of break to them. I didn’t really have that many difficult putts.”

Bohn, 42, a two-time tour winner who launched his pro career in 1992 when he received $1 million for a hole-in-one, is motivated by more than thoughts of victory.

The top four finishers not already exempt for the British Open at St. Andrews will earn a late ticket to the major championship in two weeks.

“There is nothing like it anywhere in the world, the fans, the town, the golf course,” Bohn said, “I want to play there and want to play there really bad.”

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Gene Cherry)

Parramatta hooker Isaac De Gois will undergo a fitness test on Sunday in a bid to return a month early from a cheekbone injury in time to play Wests Tigers.

The Eels are in the midst of a hooking crisis with first-choice rake Nathan Peats sidelined with a recurring knee issue and third-string Kaysa Pritchard out for the year with another torn pec.

Eels coach Brad Arthur was forced to play part-time hooker Cody Nelson in the No. 9 jumper in last week’s upset of Melbourne, but could get a boost for Monday night’s clash with the return of De Gois.

“He’ll have a bit of a fitness test today. His injury is quite severe, so we’re not going to rush him through,” Arthur said on Sunday.

Second-rower Manu Ma’u will also play for the first time in almost a month after being suspended for a raised knee against North Queensland in Round 13.

“Losing players through suspension is not great, but it was probably a rest that he deserved,” Arthur said.

“He’s feeling a little bit fresher and he’s ready to go. He feels he’s let his team down having those two games off but he’s looking for a big game tomorrow.”

Arthur batted away questions over the dramatic signing of Kieran Foran, who this week officially agreed to a two-year deal with the club beginning in 2016, with a player option for further two seasons.

“The boys are only focused on 2015. It’s great for our club, but what’s our priority right now is the rest of this season,” he said.

The former Manly assistant also refused to answer questions on his own future, which is now seemingly secure after reports of a clause inserted into Foran’s contract that allows him to leave should Arthur be let go.

“All these stories going around are all news to me. No disrespect to anyone, but our focus is on 2015,” he said.

RECENT TIGERS-EELS MEETINGS

* Since 2009, the Tigers have won nine of 12 matches against the Eels, including six of the past seven

* The Tigers have kicked a field goal in seven of those nine wins

* The Tigers have won just two of 11 Monday night games since 2012

* The Eels have won three of their past four Monday night fixtures. They should be four from four but bombed a 24-point lead against the Cowboys in Round 13

* The Eels have lost all three previous matches at the venue in 2015 and have won just one of their past 19 games there.

It was New York’s fourth win in five games, a run that has lifted them into playoff contention after a horrible stretch earlier in the season when they went 11 matches without a win.

In other action, the lowly Colorado Rapids pulled off a big upset when they beat the high-flying Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 for just their third win this season.

Colorado took a second-minute lead through Uruguayan striker Vicente Sanchez, before the visiting Whitecaps made it 1-1 courtesy of midfielder Kekuta Manneh in the 20th minute.

But the Rapids were not to be denied and Irish international Kevin Doyle headed home the winner in the 56th minute, his first MLS goal since he joined the league in May.

The loss left Vancouver level on points at the top of the Western Conference with Seattle Sounders, who beat Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United 1-0 on Friday night.

In Texas, Dallas trounced the visiting New England Revolution 3-0 with an early goal from Argentine Mauro Díaz paving the way for a comfortable victory.

Diaz drove a low free kick under the New England wall when the line of defenders jumped into the air and it only got worse for the Revolution as a comedy of errors gifted the second Dallas goal to Colombian Fabian Castillo.

In Ohio, Columbus Crew came from behind to beat New York Red Bulls 2-1, a pair of goals from midfielder Ethan Finlay overhauling an early strike on the break from Anatole Bertrand Abang.

In other matches, the Los Angeles Galaxy trounced Toronto 4-0, thanks in no small measure to a hat-trick from Ireland striker Robbie Keane, while Real Salt Lake and Orlando City drew 1-1.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Nick Mulvenney)

Japan will defend that crown on Sunday in Vancouver against the United States and this time coach Norio Sasaki said his team needs no such motivation as they bid to join Germany as the only country to claim back-to-back titles.

“In 2011 Japan suffered a great earthquake and tsunami and the people in Japan really got interested in the Women’s World Cup,” Sasaki told reporters before this team went out for the their final practise session at BC Place.

“The players responded to that and played every game hard and won and inspired the people in Japan.

“In 2011 I did a lot of things to keep the motivation high, I made videos of the earthquake devastation and they watched that.

“In this tournament I did not do that, I didn’t make any videos because they already have that experience and each player has a good mindset.

“This team has matured and the experiences they have had give inspiration to them.

“Compared to 2011 mentally they are stronger as a team.”

The ‘Nadeshiko’ will, however, draw inspiration from the fact they were beaten 2-1 by the U.S. in the final at the London 2012 Olympics, which sealed the third successive gold medal for the Americans.

The Asian champions will also be playing for team mate Kozue Ando who broke her ankle in the opening match in Canada and was ruled out of the tournament.

A white teddy bear wearing Ando’s number seven jersey has occupied a spot on the Japan bench but on Sunday the midfielder will be on the sidelines to cheer on her team mates.

“I think we complete our team only when she is with us so she makes a big difference,” captain Aya Miyama said.

“She is coming back to Vancouver and we are going to win the World Cup together with her.